“Riverdale” and “District 9” star Nat Boltt has lined up a trio of would-be nuns for her directorial debut.
“Holy Days,” a comedy based on the novel by author Dame Joy Cowley, will star Oscar nominee and Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA winner Judy Davis (“Husband and Wives”), BAFTA winner Miriam Gargoyles (the “Harry Potter” franchise) and two-time Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Jacki Weaver (“Silver Linings Playbook”). Meanwhile, young rising star Elijah Tamati (“Deep Water”) plays a leading role, while Boltt — who directs from her own screenplay — will also star.
Blue Fox Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights — excluding New Zealand and Canada — to the the Firefly Films and Lily Pictures feature, and will be launching sales at the upcoming AFM. Principal photography is slated to begin mid-November.
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In “Holy Days,” three quirky older nuns hit the road looking for miracles but end up learning to drive like demons instead. When the last of the sisters of St. Suzanne’s face forced retirement, they take matters into their own hands. A last-minute dash to New Zealand’s stunning South Island leads them to an ex-nun-turned-lawyer who can defend their rights. A young Māori boy jumps onboard to help, but has a secret mission of his own: to reach the peak of Mt. Cook, where he believes he’ll find his recently deceased mother before she steps off into the spirit world. But things go terribly wrong when an unexpected snowstorm throws everyone off course, and this oddball group of friends faces their greatest challenge yet — mortality.
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The film is produced by Emma Slade, Michelle Morris, Victoria Dabbs, Roxi Bull and Sushant Desai, along with Māori producer Tainui Stephens and associate producers Micah Winiata and Eva Trebilco.
“I’m so proud of ‘Holy Days’ and the incredible people and partnerships that have made this wildly delightful film possible,” Boltt said in a statement. “Like ‘Little Miss Sunshine,’ this story brings together an unlikely group of friends and sets them on an unexpected journey of discovery, where they may not get what they want but they sure get what they need! I’m looking forward to working with Blue Fox as this film embraces global audiences and hits theaters worldwide to become a much-loved classic.”
The film will be distributed in New Zealand and Australia by Kismet Movies, and in Canada by Photon Films. It is made with financial support from the Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand Screen Production Rebate, Telefilm Canada, Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia, CBC Films and Elemental Post.
“In the vein of commercially appealing, inspirational family films such as ‘Wonder’ and ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon,’ ‘Holy Days’ is a heartwarming and uplifting story that will resonate with audiences around the world,” said Blue Fox’s Lisa Guberlet. “With an ensemble cast led by some of the most esteemed international actresses of our time, the film’s blend of humor, emotion and adventure, paired with its universal themes of love, loss and resilience, is sure to captivate viewers of all ages.”
Boltt is repped by The Characters and Circle of Confusion. Davis is repped by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Shanahan Management. Margolyes is repped by Innovative Artists and Shanahan Management. Weaver is repped by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Elevate Entertainment. Tamati is repped by Lion Rock Management.
